Something Scandalous

Elizabeth had also asserted the boys needs for a tutor to keep them up with their studies. Again, she was right. And every night they were home, she read to Sarah before bed. Those didn’t seem to be the actions of a selfish woman. He couldn’t imagine Abigail doing any of those things for his siblings.

He sipped his whisky, noticing the first affects of the drink. His mind felt slightly fuzzy. Had she really manipulated him?

Thinking back to that day in the music room, he only remembered her pain at telling him about her father. If she had truly wanted him to stay, she could have insisted on marriage after they had finished. His honor should have insisted upon marriage, regardless of her misgivings. Why did she think she’d manipulated him?

He drank down the rest of his whisky. He wanted nothing more than to slip into a stupor for the night.

Lady Whitely walked back and sat down next to him with a smile. “She needs a few minutes to ready herself.”

This was a foolish idea. He should leave, return home, and attempt to get sober.

Elizabeth and Sophie enjoyed a small dinner and then returned to the salon to talk. For two days now, Elizabeth barely touched her food, her stomach tied up in knots all the time. She had not heard from Will but truly hadn’t expected to. Her real disappointment was that Ellie and Lucy had not tried to contact her. Perhaps Will had convinced them that she was a horrible person.

All she wanted to do was go to bed and forget about this day. But Sophie insisted on talking…again.

“Elizabeth, do you honestly believe you only slept with the duke to keep him in England.”

“Must we discuss this again?”

“Yes. I just don’t believe it,” Sophie said.

“What do you mean?”

“I have been thinking about this. Is there a chance you decided there must be a reason you succumbed to his charms, so you invented this excuse?”

Elizabeth relived that day. She’d been so distraught about her family and the late duke, and being with Will felt so wonderful. “I was scared, Sophie. If he returned to Canada or America, I would have been left alone…again.”

“You have been alone before,” Sophie commented.

“Not like this. After falling in love with him and his family, I feel so lost not being with them.”

Suddenly the front door hurled open and Lord Somerton stepped inside. “Sophie! Where the bloody hell are you?”

Sophie rolled her eyes. “In here, Somerton.”

Lord Somerton raced into the room and looked over at Elizabeth. “Thank God.”

He strode toward her and pulled her out of her seat.

“What are you doing?” Sophie exclaimed.

“She needs to come with me.”

“Why?” Elizabeth and Sophie said in unison.

Somerton stared at Sophie. “He is at Lady Whitely’s.”

Sophie’s eyes widened. “Oh, my. How did you find out?”

“She sent a footman to inform me.” He looked over at Elizabeth again.

“This must be her decision,” Sophie said to him.

“Dammit, we don’t have time for this. Lady Elizabeth, do you love Will?”

“Yes,” she admitted quietly.

“Will you do whatever it takes to get him back?” Somerton demanded.